Illumination apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an illumination apparatus having a video projection function capable of more favorably moving and adjusting a position on which a video is projected even after the apparatus is set. The illumination apparatus is an illumination apparatus which is held by a holding tool for fixing to a ceiling surface or a wall and which emits illumination light, and includes: a light source arranged inside a housing for generating the illumination light; a diffusion plate attached to a part of the housing, the diffusion plate diffusing the illumination light from the light source; a projector which is arranged inside a space formed by the housing and a part of the diffusion plate and which projects a video onto a projection surface; and movement means for making the whole or a part of the projector movable in a direction parallel to the projection surface.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an illumination apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

A technique for attaching a communication function module to a ceilinglight, the communication function module being capable of using varioustypes of functions while being attached to a ceiling or a wall surface,is disclosed in the following Patent Document 1.

Further, an illumination apparatus with an image projection deviceenabling spatial presentation in combination of illumination light and avideo is disclosed in the following Patent Document 2.

RELATED ART DOCUMENTS Patent Documents

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No.2003-16831

Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No.2012-186118

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

However, the above-described related-art techniques disclose only ablock diagram and a simple outer appearance as a projector, and do notdisclose a projector which has been made in consideration of a functionof freely moving and adjusting a projection position of a video from theprojector in an illumination apparatus.

Generally, an illumination apparatus having a video projection functionis attached to a ceiling surface for use. In the case, the illuminationapparatus is set and adjusted so that a video projected from a projectoris projected onto a desired position, e.g., a position on a surface of atable or others arranged in a room. However, after that, it is desiredin some cases to change the position onto which the video from theprojector is projected because of change in an arrangement of furnitureor others in the room or others. However, in that case, it is requiredagain to set and adjust the attachment position (also referred to assetting position) of the entire illumination apparatus having the videoprojection function onto a ceiling surface or a wall. This manner alsoincluding a work for the requirement is inconvenience for a user. Thatis, in the above-described conventional technique, consideration of amore favorable moving and adjusting function for the projected video inthe illumination apparatus having the video projection function has notyet been sufficient.

Therefore, the present invention has been achieved in view of problemsin the above-described related art technique, and an object of theinvention is to provide an illumination apparatus having a videoprojection function which can more favorably move and adjust a positiononto which a video is projected even after setting of the apparatus.

Means for Solving the Problems

In order to achieve the above-described object, an illuminationapparatus which is held by a holding tool for fixing to a ceilingsurface or a wall and which emits illumination light according to thepresent invention is provided, the illumination apparatus including: alight source for generating the illumination light, which is arrangedinside a housing; a diffusion plate which is attached to a part of thehousing and which diffuses the illumination light from the light source;a projector which is arranged inside a space where the housing and apart of the diffusion plate are arranged and which projects a video ontoa projection surface; and movement means for enabling the whole or apartof the projector to move in a direction parallel to the projectionsurface.

Effects of the Invention

According to the present invention described above, an illuminationapparatus having a video projection function which can more favorablymove and adjust a position onto which a video is projected even aftersetting of the apparatus is provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an outerappearance of an illumination apparatus having a video projectionfunction according to an embodiment of the present invention, togetherwith usage environment of the illumination apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a diagram explaining an outline of an internal configurationof the above-described illumination apparatus having the videoprojection function;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed circuit configurationinside the above-described illumination apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a top view, a side view, and a bottom view explaining aninternal configuration of an illumination apparatus according to a firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an enlarged part of a rotationmechanism in the illumination apparatus according to the firstembodiment, together with its cross section, for explaining details ofthe rotation mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a diagram explaining an operation of the rotation mechanism inthe illumination apparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating movement and rotation of a projectedvideo caused by movement of a projector main body according to the firstembodiment in X-axis and Y-axis directions and rotation of the samearound a Z axis;

FIG. 8 is a top view, a side view, and a bottom view explaining aninternal configuration of an illumination apparatus according to asecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a developed perspective view for explaining details of arotation mechanism in the illumination apparatus according to the secondembodiment;

FIG. 10 is a bottom view illustrating a modified example of theillumination apparatus according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a function of varying a relativeposition between a display element and a projection optical system usedin illumination apparatuses according to a third embodiment and a fourthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a top view, a side view, and a bottom view explaining aninternal configuration of the illumination apparatus according to thethird embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view for explaining details of a mechanism ofmoving a relative position between a projector and a projection lens inthe illumination apparatus according to the third embodiment, togetherwith its cross section;

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating movement and rotation of a projectedvideo caused by movement of a projector main body according to the thirdembodiment in X-axis and Y-axis directions and rotation of the samearound a Z axis;

FIG. 15 is a top view, a side view, and a bottom view explaining aninternal configuration of the illumination apparatus according to thefourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a developed perspective view for explaining details of thefunction of moving the projection lens in the illumination apparatusaccording to the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating movement and rotation of a projectedvideo caused by movement of the projection lens according to the fourthembodiment in X-axis and Y-axis directions;

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view for explaining details of a mechanismof moving a projection lens in an illumination apparatus according to afifth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating movement and rotation of a projectedvideo caused by movement of a projector main body according to the fifthembodiment in X-axis and Y-axis directions and rotation of the samearound a Z axis.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail belowwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, FIG. 1 illustrates a configuration of an outer appearance of anillumination apparatus with a video projection function according to anembodiment of the present invention. Particularly, FIG. 1 illustrates anillumination apparatus with a video projection function obtained bymounting the video projection function on an illumination apparatusattached in a suspended form from a ceiling surface, which is aso-called pendant-type illumination apparatus. However, the presentinvention is not limited to only this. In addition, the presentinvention is also applicable to an illumination apparatus attached to aceiling surface, which is a so-called ceiling-type illuminationapparatus as described later.

As can also be seen from FIG. 1, an illumination apparatus with a videoprojection function 10 is used while being attached to, for example, awall surface or a ceiling surface 50 constituting a space such as akitchen, a dining room, a living room, an office, or others. Morespecifically, as also illustrated in FIG. 1, the illumination apparatuswith the video projection function 10 is set above a table or a desk 60set in a room so as to have a predetermined height or so as to beintegrally with the ceiling surface. This illumination apparatus withthe video projection function 10 is an illumination apparatus havingboth an illumination function for irradiating an upper surface of thetable or the desk with illumination light 2 and a video projectionfunction for projecting and displaying various types of videos 1 on theupper surface (also referred to as a display surface or a projectionsurface) 61 of the table or the desk 60. Note that a holding tool 40 inFIG. 1 represents, for example, a cylindrical pipe made of a metal suchas aluminum, which is a holding tool for holding a pendant-typeillumination apparatus with a video projection function 10 while beingsuspended at a desired position from the ceiling surface 50. In FIG. 1,note that the holding tool 40 which is the pipe is attached to theceiling surface 50. However, the holding tool may be attached to a wallor others through a bending process, a joint, or others.

The table or the desk 60 or others having a horizontal plane onto whicha video is desired to be projected by using the video projectionfunction has a high possibility to be an object illuminated by theillumination function in usage of the illumination apparatus while notusing the video projection function. Accordingly, it is desirable tooverlap at least partially a region onto which the video is projected bythe video projection function and an illumination-light illuminationcoverage of the illumination function.

Note that the illumination apparatus with the video projection functionis desirably configured so that the illumination light irradiated by theillumination function and the video projected by the video projectionfunction can be turned on/off by mounting of a control unit. In thepresent example, note that a user performs such an operation via anoperation panel 70 attached to the wall surface.

Here, the illumination apparatus with the video projection function 10is fixed to the ceiling surface or others (which may be a wall) via theholding tool 40 which is the pipe or others as described above. However,the setting position of the table or the desk 60 may be changed by achange in layout of the furniture in the room or others. Thus, it isassumed that there is a user' s desire to similarly change a projectionposition of the video 1 serving as a projected video of the illuminationapparatus with the video projection function 10 when the settingposition of the table or the desk 60 has changed. If an aspect ratio ofthe projected video is not 1:1 so that the projected video isrectangular, the video has a lengthwise direction and a widthwisedirection. There may be a user's desire to change a direction of therectangular video depending on a viewing content or a viewing position,as indicated by, for example, a broken line in FIG. 1. However, a methodof changing a fixing position and a fixing direction of the illuminationapparatus with the video projection function 10 to the ceiling surfaceor the wall requires construction, and therefore, is not easily made.

Therefore, on the illumination apparatus the illumination apparatus withthe video projection function 10 itself, it is desirable to mount afunction capable of changing and adjusting at least one of a positionand a direction of the projected video. However, as different from anormal projection-type video apparatus having no illumination function,it is desirable to configure the illumination apparatus with the videoprojection function 10 so that a favorable outer appearance as anillumination apparatus can be maintained. The embodiment of the presentinvention will explain a specific example of the illumination apparatuswith the video projection function 10 on which the function capable ofchanging and adjusting the position and the direction of the projectedvideo in consideration of circumstances described above.

FIG. 2 illustrates an outline of an internal configuration of theillumination apparatus with the video projection function 10 illustratedin FIG. 1 described above. Inside of a main body (also referred to as ahousing or a shade) 11 whose outer shape is, for example, substantiallycylindrical or conical formed by metallic molding of a synthetic resinas illustrated in (A) of FIG. 2 includes: an illumination light source20 configured by arranging a plurality of semiconductor light emittingelements (LEDs) 22 along its circumference so that substantially uniformillumination light is obtained on a surface of, for example, adisk-shaped substrate 21 made of a metal or others superior in thermalconductivity as illustrated in (B) of FIG. 2; and a small-sizedprojector 30 whose outer shape is a box shape for projecting anddisplaying various types of videos as illustrated in (C) of FIG. 2. Notethat the diffusion plate 12 in the drawing represents a so-calleddiffusion plate provided to cover a lower opening of the main body 11for diffusing the illumination light from the illumination light source20 and for uniformly irradiating the diffused illumination lightdownward. An opening 14 is an opening formed at a part of the diffusionplate 12, and the video from the small-sized projector 30 is projectedvia the opening 14. Note that the explanation described above has beenmade while the outer shape of the main body (shade) 11 is substantiallycylindrical or conical. However, the present invention is not limited tothis, and other shapes such as a box shape may be applicable.

A power supply unit 80 illustrated in FIG. 2 described above representsa power supply unit converting a commercial alternating-current (AC)power, which is input via a plug for a lighting device not illustrated,into a desired alternate-current voltage or direct-current voltage. Thepower supply unit 80 is arranged on an upper surface of a disk-shapedholding plate 90 arranged on an upper portion of the small-sizedprojector 30, and supplies required power to the above-describedillumination light source 20 and small-sized projector 30 via a wiringindicated by a curve line in the drawing. The small-sized projector 30is embedded into the main body (shade) 11 in an upright state so thatvideo light of the projector is projected downward as indicated by abroken line in (C) of FIG. 2, and is attached by using a casing member31 whose outer shape is such a substantially “U” shape as covering outerperiphery of the projector (specifically, the small-sized projector 30is fixed by inserting the casing member 31 into a rectangular openingformed in the disk-shaped holding plate 90). Support pillars 91 andsupport pillars 92 in the drawing is are support pillars which extendfrom the holding plate 90 in an up-and-down direction so as to beconnected to an upper surface of the main body (shade) 11 and thedisk-shaped substrate 21, respectively. That is, by the above-describedconfiguration, each unit is arranged at a desired position inside themain body (shade) 11.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a specific circuitconfiguration of the above-described illumination apparatus with thevideo projection function 10. The illumination apparatus with the videoprojection function 10 includes a projection-type video display unit 100(corresponding to the small-sized projector 30 illustrated in FIG. 2)having a video projection function and an illumination unit 200 havingan illumination light irradiation function. An operation signal inputunit 301 is an operation button or a light receiving unit of a remotecontroller, and an operation signal from a user is input thereto.

Next, a configuration of the projection-type video display unit 100 willbe described. A projection optical system 101 is an optical system forprojecting a video onto the display surface 61, and includes at leastone of a lens and a mirror. A display element 102 is an element formodulating transmitted light or reflected light to generate a video,and, for example, a transmission-type liquid crystal panel, areflection-type liquid crystal panel, a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device:registered trademark) panel, or others, is used as the display element102. A display element driving unit 103 feeds a driving signal to thedisplay element 102 in response to a video signal. A light source 105generates light for video projection, and a high-pressure mercury lamp,a xenon lamp, an LED light source, a laser light source, or others isused as the light source 105. A power supply 106 converts an AC currentwhich is input from the outside into a DC current, and supplies power tothe light source 105. Further, the power supply 106 supplies a DCcurrent required for each of other units. An illumination optical system104 collects the light generated by the light source 105, moreuniformizes the light, and irradiates the display element 102 with thelight. A cooling unit 190 cools each unit such as the light source 105,the power supply 106, or the display element 102, whose temperaturebecomes high, by an air cooling system or a liquid cooling system asneeded. An operation input unit 107 is an operation button or a lightreceiving unit of a remote controller, and an operation signal from theuser is input thereto. The operation input unit 107 may receive aninfrared-ray signal or a radio-wave signal from the operation panel 70illustrated in FIG. 1. If a signal from the operation signal input unit301 in the illumination apparatus with the video projection function 10is input to the projection-type video display unit 100, a configurationwithout the operation input unit 107 may be applied.

To a video signal input unit 131, an external video output device isconnected, and video data is input. To a voice signal input unit 133, anexternal voice output device is connected, and voice data is input. Avoice output unit 140 can output the voice based on the voice data inputto the voice signal input unit 133. The voice output unit 140 may outputa built-in operation sound or an error warning sound. A communicationunit 132 is connected to, for example, an external informationprocessing apparatus, and various types of control signals areinput/output thereto/therefrom. The communication unit 132 may havewired communication or wireless communication with the operation panel70 illustrated in FIG. 1.

A nonvolatile memory 108 stores various types of data used in aprojector function. A memory 109 stores video data to be projected anddata for controlling the apparatus. A control unit 110 controls anoperation of each of the connected units.

An image adjustment unit 160 performs the image processing for the videodata which has been input to the video signal input unit 131. The imageprocessing includes, for example, a scaling processing for magnifying,reducing, and deforming an image or others, a bright adjustmentprocessing for changing luminance, a contrast adjustment processing forchanging a contrast curve of an image, a retinex processing fordecomposing an image into optical components and changing a weightingfor each of the components, and others.

A storage unit 170 records a video, an image, a voice, various types ofdata, and others. The video, the image, the voice, the various types ofdata, and others may be previously recorded therein at the time of, forexample, product shipment, and a video, an image, a voice, various typesof data, and others acquired from external equipment, an externalserver, or others via the communication unit 132 may be recordedtherein. The video, the image, the various types of data, and othersrecorded in the storage unit 170 may be output as a projected video viathe display element 102 and the projection optical system 101. The voicerecorded in the storage unit 170 may be output as a voice from the voiceoutput unit 140.

As described above, various functions can be mounted on theprojection-type video display unit 100. However, the projection-typevideo display unit 100 does not always need to have all theabove-described configurations. The projection-type video display unit100 may have any configuration as long as it has a function ofprojecting a video.

Next, a configuration of the illumination unit 200 will be described.

A control unit 201 controls each of the connected units. An operationinput unit 203 is an operation button or a light receiving unit of aremote controller, and an operation signal from the user is input to theoperation input unit. The operation input unit 203 may receive aninfrared-ray signal or a radio signal from the operation panel 70illustrated in FIG. 1. If a signal from the operation signal input unit301 in the illumination apparatus with the video projection function 10is input to the illumination unit 200, a configuration without theoperation input unit 203 may be applicable. A nonvolatile memory 204stores various types of data used in the illumination unit 200.

A power supply 202 converts an AC current input from the outside into aDC current, and supplies power to light emitting element drivers (210,220, etc.). Further, the power supply 202 supplies a DC current requiredfor each of other units. The light emitting element drivers (210, 220,etc.) cause light emitting elements (211, 212, 213, 221, 222, 223, etc.)to emit the light based on the control of the control unit 201 whileusing the power supplied from the power supply 202. The light emittingelement becomes a light source of the illumination light emitted by theillumination unit 200. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, forexample, the light emitting element driver A210 collectively drives “n”light emitting elements A1, A2, . . . An (211, 212, 213, etc.) connectedin series. The light emitting element driver A210 changes a luminance, acolor, or others of each of the light emitting elements based on thecontrol of the control unit 201. Similarly, the light emitting elementdriver B220 collectively drives “m” light emitting elements B1, B2, . .. Bm (221, 222, 223, etc.) connected in series. The light emittingelement driver B220 changes a luminance, a color, or others of each ofthe light emitting elements based on the control of the control unit201. By such a configuration, control to change the luminance or thecolor of each of the plurality of light emitting elements can beperformed for each of the light emitting element drivers. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 3, an example of two sets of the light emittingelement driver and the plurality of light emitting elements has beenexemplified. However, the number of sets may be one or three or more.The number of sets may be increased or decreased, as needed.

By the configuration described above, the illumination unit 200 can emitthe illumination light having a luminance and a color at least eitherone of which is variable.

Then, in an illumination apparatus having a video projection function,means and a mechanism capable of favorably moving and adjusting aposition of a video projected from a projector, which are features ofthe present invention, will be specifically described in detail below asa first embodiment to a fifth embodiment.

First Embodiment

Regarding the whole of the above-described illumination apparatus withthe video projection function 10, i.e., relates to the main body 11itself in which the illumination light source 20, the small-sizedprojector 30, and the power supply unit 80 are arranged, in the firstembodiment, a relative position between the apparatus and an attachmentposition of the apparatus, i.e., a position (more specifically, acentral axis) of the holding tool 40 serving as a metallic pipe fixedlyattached to the ceiling surface 50 is variable. In FIG. 4, note that theillumination apparatus with the video projection function 10 accordingto the first embodiment is illustrated so as to include its internalconfiguration, as a top view in (A), a side view (a cross-sectionalview) in (B), and a bottom view in (C). However, many parts of thesecontents are similar to those illustrated in FIG. 2 described above.Accordingly, detailed description for the similar parts to thoseillustrated in FIG. 2 is omitted here, and a rotation mechanism which isa feature of the illumination apparatus 10 will be described below withreference to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6. Hereinafter, each of side views used forthe description is a cross-sectional view in order to make thedescription easy.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, a disk-shaped flange unit 41 is formedat a lower end of the pipe serving as the holding tool 40 of theapparatus to the ceiling surface while double disk units 111 and 112 areformed in an upper surface portion of the main body (shade) 11, andbesides, the flange unit 41 is further slidably inserted into a columnargap formed between the disk unit 111 and the disk unit 112. An opening115 having a larger diameter than the diameter of the holding tool 40 isformed at a central portion of each of the double disk units 111 and 112in the upper surface portion of the main body (shade) 11, and gaps 501and 502 for adjusting a relative position between the holding tool 40and the main body (shade) 11 are provided. Thus, by sliding between anupper surface of the disk-shaped flange unit 41 in the holding tool 40and a lower surface of the disk unit 111, the main body (shade) 11 isrotatable around a “Z” axis that is an axis perpendicular to a videoprojection surface, and a position of the main body is also movable in adirection of a horizontal plane (X-axis and Y-axis directions) that is aplane parallel to the video projection surface. A movement range of themain body (shade) 11 can be adjusted by setting the gaps 501 and 502 todesired values at the time of design. Further, a fixing member 42 havinga flange portion is arranged above the double disk units 111 and 112 soas to sandwich the disk unit 111 between the fixing member and theflange unit 41 at the lower end of the holding tool 40 and to cover thedisk unit 111. Further, a screw hole 43 is formed in a part of theflange portion of the fixing member 42, and a fastening screw (lockingscrew) 44 is threaded into the hole as also illustrated in FIGS. 4 and5.

In (B) of FIG. 4, a configuration in the illumination apparatus with thevideo projection function 10 is indicated by wide-interval oblique linesin cross section, the configuration having a position that is variablerelative to the holding tool 40 serving as a fixing member whoseposition is invariable relative to a ceiling or a wall.

According to the above-described configuration portion, as alsoillustrated in FIG. 6, the whole of the above-described illuminationapparatus with the video projection function 10, i.e., the main body(shade) 11 itself in which the illumination light source 20, thesmall-sized projector 30, and the power supply unit 80 are arranged, ismovable in the horizontal plane direction (X-axis and Y-axisdirections), and further becomes rotatable around a central axis(Z-axis) of the pipe serving as the holding tool 40 as indicated by anarrow 600 illustrated in FIG. 6. That is, a video projected from thesmall-sized projector 30 can be rotated relative to the upper surface 61of the table or the desk 60 by the rotation of the main body (shade) 11(see a broken line on the table or the desk 60 in FIG. 1, describedabove), and besides, a position of the projected video can be moved andadjusted in the X-axis and Y-axis directions (in up-and-down andright-and-left directions when the video is viewed from a front side) bythe movement in the X-axis and Y-axis directions of the main body(shade) 11. That is, the projected video can be rotated in one-axisdirection and moved in two-axes directions. In the case, a position ofthe main body (shade) 11 relative to the central axis (Z-axis) of theholding tool 40 can be set and adjusted to a desired position byloosening the fastening screw (locking screw) 44 to adjust a rotationangle and a movement position of the main body (shade) 11, and then,retightening the fastening screw 44.

Thus, the movement and rotation functions of the projected video can beachieved at relatively low cost without the need to include a mechanismsuch as a gear or a rack by application of the position lockingmechanism (the fastening screw 44 in the above-described example) andthe mechanism for the sliding between the horizontal plane (the flangeunit 41 in the above-described example) of the fixing member having theinvariable position relative to the ceiling or the wall and thehorizontal plane (the disk unit 11 in the above-described example) ofthe member including the small-sized projector 30, the member having thevariable position relative to the fixing member.

An example of the movement of the projected video caused by the movementof the main body (shade) 11 in the small-sized projector in the X-axisand Y-axis directions described above is illustrated by using a solidline and a two-dot and dash line in (A) to (D) of FIG. 7. At this time,an amount of the movement of the projected video becomes the same as aspatial amount of the movement of the main body (shade) 11. For example,if the gaps 501 and 502 are set so that the main body (shade) 11 ismovable by a maximum of ±10 mm in the X-axis and Y-axis directions, thevideo is also movable by a maximum of ±10 mm in the X-axis and Y-axisdirections. The movement and the rotation of the projected video causedby the rotation of the main body (shade) 11 of the small-sized projectoraround the Z-axis are illustrated by using a solid line and a two-dotand dash line in (E) of FIG. 7.

In the above-described example, note that the explanation has been madein an assumption that a projection lens 32 (see(C) of FIG. 2) in thesmall-sized projector 30 is arranged at a central portion of a lowersurface of the illumination apparatus with the video projection function10. However, if a position of the projection lens 32 is not at thecenter of the lower surface of the illumination apparatus with the videoprojection function 10, it would be understood for those skilled in theart to form a position of the opening 14, that is formed on a part ofthe diffusion plate 12, at a position other than a central portion tomatch the position of the projection lens 32.

In the illumination apparatus with the video projection functionaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention describedabove, the rotation and the movement of the projected video can befavorably achieved. Since the rotation and the movement of the video canbe achieved without changing the relative position between the diffusionplate 12 and the projection lens 32, the size of the opening 14 of thediffusion plate 12 can be minimized, so that dust proofing performanceis easier to be enhanced, and an aesthetic outer appearance as anillumination apparatus can be further enhanced.

Second Embodiment

In a second embodiment, regarding a portion in the illuminationapparatus with the video projection function 10, that is, the portionbeing an illumination light source 20, a small-sized projector 30, and apower supply unit 80 inside a main body (shade) 11, a position of theportion is variable relative to the holding tool 40 serving as a fixingmember whose position is invariable relative to a ceiling or a wall. Onthe other hand, the main body (shade) 11 has a structure whose relativeposition to the holding tool 40 is fixed. In FIG. 8, the illuminationapparatus with the video projection function 10 according to the secondembodiment is illustrated so as to include its internal configuration,as a top view in (A), a side view in (B), and a bottom view in (C). Notethat these contents basically have many similar parts to thoseillustrated in FIG. 2 described above. Accordingly, detailed descriptionfor the similar parts to those illustrated in FIG. 2 is omitted here,and a rotation mechanism which is a feature of the illuminationapparatus 10 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, a pipe serving as a holding tool 40 fixed to aceiling or a wall is fixed to a disk unit 111 serving as an uppersurface of a main body (shade) 11 by a fixing member 120. Meanwhile,below this structure, via a support pillar 91 extending upward from adisk-shaped holding plate 90, double disk units 94 and 95 are attachedabove the support pillar 91. In a central portion of each of the diskunits 94 and 95, an opening having a diameter larger than the diameterof the pipe serving as the holding tool 40 but smaller than a diameterof a flange unit 41 at a lower end of the pipe is formed. A differencebetween the diameters gives a sliding range, described below. Further,the disk-shaped flange unit 41 of the holding tool 40 is slidablyinserted into a gap formed between the disk units 94 and 95 (see adotted-line arrow in FIG. 9). That is, the double disk units 94 and 95are movable in a horizontal plane direction (X-axis and Y-axisdirections) relative to the holding tool 40 fixed to the ceiling or thewall, and is rotatable around a Z-axis. That is, a projected video canbe rotated in one-axis direction and moved in two-axes directions. Notethat a protrusion (a so-called knob) 96 which a user can hold withhis/her fingers is attached across a cover ring 97 to the upper diskunit 94 of the double disk units, and the protrusion 96 is configured toprotrude outward after passing through a half-moon-shaped opening 113formed in the disk unit 111 serving as the upper surface of the mainbody (shade) 11 when the illumination apparatus with the videoprojection function 10 is assembled.

As similar to the above-described embodiment, a casing member 31 inwhich the small-sized projector 30 is to be embedded in an upright stateis inserted into a rectangular opening 93 formed in a substantiallycentral portion of the disk-shaped holding plate 90, and a disk-shapedillumination light source 20 is further attached to a lower end of asupport pillar 92 extending downward from the disk-shaped holding plate90. In order to easily understand a configuration of each of members,note that illustration of the small-sized projector 30 and the powersupply unit 80 embedded inside the main body (shade) 11 is omitted.

In (B) of FIG. 8, a configuration in the illumination apparatus with thevideo projection function 10 is indicated by wide-interval oblique linesin cross section, the configuration having a position that is variablerelative to the holding tool 40 serving as a fixing member whoseposition is invariable relative to a ceiling or a wall.

According to the above-described configuration portion, as illustratedin FIG. 9, a portion of the above-described illumination apparatus withthe video projection function 10, i.e., the configuration including theillumination light source 20, the small-sized projector 30, and thepower supply unit 80, is movable in the horizontal plane direction(X-axis and Y-axis directions) inside the main body (shade) 11 fixed tothe pipe serving as the holding unit 40, and further becomes rotatablearound a central axis (Z-axis) of the holding tool 40 as indicated by anarrow 900. That is, a video projected from the small-sized projector 30can be rotated relative to the upper surface 61 of the table or the desk60 by the rotation of the double disk units 94 and 95, and besides, aposition of the projected video can be moved and adjusted in the X-axisand Y-axis directions (in up-and-down and right-and-left directions whenthe video is viewed from a front side) by the movement in the X-axis andY-axis directions of the double disk units.

Thus, the movement and rotation functions of the projected video can beachieved at relatively low cost without the need to include a mechanismsuch as a gear or a rack by application of the position lockingmechanism (the fastening screw 44 in the above-described example) andthe mechanism for the sliding between the horizontal plane (the flangeunit 41 in the above-described example) of the fixing member having theinvariable position relative to the ceiling or the wall and thehorizontal plane (the disk unit 94 in the above-described example) ofthe member having the variable position relative to the fixing member ofthe small-sized projector 30.

In the second embodiment, note that the small-sized projector 30 becomesmovable in the X-axis and Y-axis directions and rotatable around theZ-axis inside the main body (shade) 11. Accordingly, as also illustratedin (C) of FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, an opening 14 b formed in a part of adiffusion plate 12 needs to have a larger diameter than a diameter of aprojection lens 32 in consideration of the movement in the X-axis andY-axis directions of the projection lens 32.

Note that the movement of the projected video caused by the movement ofthe small-sized projector 30 inside the main body (shade) 11 in theX-axis and Y-axis directions described above is indicated by using asolid line and a two-dot and dash line in (A) to (D) of FIG. 7 assimilar to the first embodiment. At this time, an amount of the movementof the projected video becomes the same as a spatial amount of themovement of the small-sized projector 30. For example, if such aperipheral structure as limiting diameter of the holding tool 40, thediameter of the flange unit 41, and the movement ranges of the holdingtool and the flange unit is set so that the small-sized projector 30 ismovable by a maximum of ±10 mm in the X-axis and Y-axis directions, thevideo is also movable by a maximum of ±10 mm in the X-axis and Y-axisdirections. The rotation of the projected video caused by the rotationof the small-sized projector 30 inside the main body (shade) 11 aroundthe Z-axis is illustrated by using a solid line and a two-dot and dashline in (E) of FIG. 7.

If a position of the projection lens 32 is not at a center of a rotationcenter of the small-sized projector 30, the opening 14 b formed in apart of the diffusion plate 12 may be formed into a shape adapted tomovement of the position of the projection lens 32, i.e., asubstantially half-moon shape in the present embodiment as alsoillustrated as, for example, an opening 14 c of the diffusion plate 12illustrated in FIG. 10 as a modified example.

Note that the size of the opening 14 b can be minimized by thearrangement of the position of the projection lens 32 at the center ofthe rotation center of the small-sized projector 30.

When the position of the projected video from the projector is moved andadjusted, the user can set and adjust the position by loosening thefastening screw (locking screw) 44 and holding the above-describedprotrusion 96 to adjust a rotation angle and a movement position of amember for holding the small-sized projector 30 inside the main body(shade) 11, and then, retightening the fastening screw 44.

In the illumination apparatus with the video projection functionaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention describedabove, the rotation and the movement of the projected video can befavorably achieved. A position and a direction of the main body (shade)11 relative to the ceiling or the wall are fixed, so that an effect ofstability in the outer appearance as the illumination apparatus isobtained even when the position and the angle of the video are adjusted.

Then, hereinafter, the illumination apparatus with the video projectionfunction 10 which moves the position of the projected video by varyingthe relative position between the display element and the projectionoptical system (e.g., the projection lens) will be described in detailas third to fifth embodiments with reference to the drawings.

A principle of such a function of varying the relative position betweenthe display element and the projection optical system (e.g., theprojection lens) will be described with reference to FIG. 11. The videolight emitted from the light source and modulated by the display element(e.g., a transmission-type liquid crystal panel or others) is magnifiedby the projection lens and is projected onto a projection surface. Whenthe projection lens is moved in a direction parallel to a surface of thedisplay element as indicated by a dotted line and an arrow in FIG. 11, arelative position between an optical axis of the projection opticalsystem and the display element serving as an optical “object” can bevaried. Consequently, a display position on a projection surface of themagnified projected video serving as an optical “image” moves asillustrated in FIG. 11. At this time, an amount of movement of theprojected video becomes an amount obtained by multiplying an amount ofmovement of the relative position between the display element and theprojection optical system by a magnification percentage (that is a sizeof the “image” relative to a size of the “object”) made by theprojection optical system. Accordingly, the higher the magnificationpercentage is, the larger the amount of movement of the projected videois.

By usage of this function of varying the relative position between thedisplay element and the projection optical system, the position on theprojection surface of the video projected from the illuminationapparatus with the video projection function 10 can be moved in a largerrange than a position obtained when the position of the small-sizedprojector 30 is varied without changing the relative position betweenthe display element and the projection optical system. Thus, theposition of the projected video can be favorably set and adjusted.

Note that the effect is obtained when the relative position between thedisplay element and the projection optical system is varied. Therefore,a position of the optical axis of the projection optical system may bevaried while a spatial position of the display element is fixed.Conversely, the spatial position of the display element may be variedwhile the position of the optical axis of the projection optical systemis fixed.

Third Embodiment

In a third embodiment, the position of the projected video can be movedin a larger range by usage of the function of varying the relativeposition between the display element and the projection optical systemdescribed above. In the third embodiment, the above-describedillumination apparatus with the video projection function 10 isstructured so that a position of a projection lens 32 serving as aprojection optical system in a small-sized projector 30 relative to aceiling or a wall is fixed and so that a portion including the displayelement in the small-sized projector 30 is movable and rotatable. Thus,a relative positional relation between the optical axis of theprojection optical system and the display element can be changed.

In FIG. 12, the illumination apparatus with the video projectionfunction 10 according to the third embodiment is illustrated so as toinclude its internal configuration, as a top view in (A), a side view in(B), and a bottom view in (C). Note that these contents basically havemany similar parts to those illustrated in FIG. 2 described above.Accordingly, detailed description for the similar parts to thoseillustrated in FIG. 2 is omitted here, and a rotation mechanism which isa feature of the illumination apparatus 10 will be described below withreference to FIGS. 12 and 13.

As can be seen from. FIG. 13, a pipe serving as a holding tool 40 to aceiling surface is fixed to a disk unit 111 serving as an upper surfaceof a main body (shade) 11 by a flange unit 41 at a lower end of the pipeand a fixing member 120. Further, a smaller flange unit 45 is formedbelow the flange unit 41, and besides, a shaft unit 46 and a disk-shapedmember 47 are integrally formed at a lower end of the flange unit 45.

Meanwhile, a cylindrical member 33 extends upward from an upper surfaceof a casing member 31 that is used for embedding the small-sizedprojector 30 therein in an upright state, and a disk-shaped member 34whose outer periphery has partially a convex portion formed isintegrally formed at a distal end of the member 33. A cylindrical spacehaving a larger diameter than the diameter of the disk-shaped member 47formed at a lower end of the holding tool 40 is formed inside thisdisk-shaped member 34, and besides, a circular opening having a diametersmaller than the diameter of the disk-shaped member 47 but larger thanthe diameter of the shaft unit 46 is formed on an upper surface of thespace.

That is, the disk-shaped member 47 at the lower end of the holding tool40 is movably housed in an internal space of the disk-shaped member(hereinafter also referred to as a suspended member) 34. The diameter ofthe circular opening on the upper surface of the disk-shaped member 34serving as the suspended member is larger than the diameter of the shaftunit 46 but is smaller than the diameter of the disk-shaped member 47.Therefore, the disk-shaped member 34 serving as the suspended memberstays at the lower end of the holding tool 40, and can move and rotate.A movement range of the disk-shaped member 34 can be adjusted by settinga gap 1301 between the disk-shaped member 47 and the disk-shaped member34 and a gap 1302 between the shaft unit 46 and the circular opening onthe upper surface of the disk-shaped member 34 to desired values at thetime of design.

A half-moon-shaped opening 113 is formed in the disk unit 111 serving asthe upper surface of the main body (shade) 11, and a protrusion 96 whichthe user can hold with his/her fingers is provided so as to interpose acovering 97 through the opening 113. Correspondingly, a protrusion 96 isattached to a convex portion serving as a part of the outer periphery ofthe upper one of the double disk units in the disk-shaped member 34serving as the suspended member. Note that the protrusion 96 passesthrough the opening 113 and protrudes outward when the illuminationapparatus with the video projection function 10 is assembled.Accordingly, the user can use the protrusion 96 when a portion includingthe display element in the small-sized projector 30 is moved in ahorizontal plane direction (X-axis and Y-axis directions) and is rotatedaround a central axis (Z-axis). That is, the projected video can berotated in one-axis direction and moved in two-axes directions.

Note that a position locking mechanism for the movement and rotation maybe a locking mechanism by such screw tightening as shaping a jointbetween the protrusion 96 and the disk-shaped member (suspended member)34 into a screw form. Alternatively, although not illustrated in FIG.13, a fastening screw (locking screw) 44 for fixing the rotation andmovement may be provided in the disk unit 111 serving as the uppersurface of the main body (shade) 11 separately from the protrusion 96 asillustrated in (A) of FIG. 12.

In (B) of FIG. 12, a configuration in the illumination apparatus withthe video projection function 10 is indicated by wide-interval obliquelines in cross section, the configuration having a position that isvariable relative to the holding tool 40 serving as a fixing memberwhose position is invariable relative to a ceiling or a wall.

In the present third embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 13, theillumination light source 20 formed by arranging a plurality ofsemiconductor light emitting elements (LEDs) on a substrate 21 is fixedto the main body (shade) 11 while a circular opening 23 is formed in acentral portion of the illumination light source 20. This mannerprevents a bottleneck when the portion including the display element inthe small-sized projector 30 moves and rotates.

Meanwhile, a flange-shaped unit 321 is formed at a lower end of theprojection lens 32 having a variable position relative to the portionincluding the display element in the small-sized projector 30, and theflange-shaped unit 321 is fixed onto a surface of a diffusion plate 12attached to the bottom of the main body (shade) 11. In the presentembodiment, note that the projection lens 32 is fixed to a position ofan opening provided in a central portion of the diffusion plate 12 byusing the flange-shaped unit 321.

According to the above-described configuration, the portion includingthe display element in the small-sized projector 30 is rotatable andmovable relative to the above-described projection lens 32 fixed to thecentral portion of the diffusion plate 12. Thus, the above-describedfunction of varying the relative position between the display elementand the projection optical system can be achieved. In the case, assimilar to the above description, the user releases the above-describedposition locking mechanism by loosening the locking or others andholding the protrusion 96 or others to adjust a rotation angle and amovement position of the small-sized projector 30 inside the main body(shade) 11. Then, by the locking caused by retightening the positionlocking mechanism or others, the position can be set and adjusted.

In the above-described example, note that the explanation has been madeabout an example in which the projection lens 32 is fixed to thediffusion plate 12. However, the projection lens 32 may be fixed to anymember other than the diffusion plate 12 as long as the relativeposition of the member to the main body (shade) 11 is fixed.

In the above-described example, note that the explanation has been madeabout the example in which the projection lens 32 in the small-sizedprojector 30, the disk-shaped member 47, a rotation center of theportion including the display element in the small-sized projector 30,and the center of the holding tool 40 are arranged on a straight line ina vertical direction at a central position of the main body (shade) 11.However, the projection lens 32 in the small-sized projector 30 can alsobe arranged at a position not matching the center of the holding tool 40or a position offset from the central position of the main body (shade)11. In this case, the rotation center of the portion including thedisplay element in the small-sized projector 30 may be arranged at aposition offset to match the offset position of the projection lens 32in the small-sized projector 30.

An example of the movement of the projected video caused by the movementof the portion including the display element in the small-sizedprojector 30 in the X-axis and Y-axis directions described above isillustrated by using a solid line and a two-dot and dash line in (A) to(D) of FIG. 14. The projection lens 32 is fixed to the diffusion plate12 or others, and has the invariable position relative to the ceiling orthe wall. Therefore, the relative position in the X-axis and Y-axisdirections between the display element and the optical axis of theprojection lens 32 is changed by the movement of the portion includingthe display element in the small-sized projector 30. At this time, anamount of movement of the projected video is an amount obtained bymultiplying an amount of change in the relative position in the X-axisand Y-axis directions between the display element and the optical axisof the projection lens 32 by a magnification percentage of theprojection optical system.

For example, if the display element has a rectangular video displaysurface having a diagonal length of 0.6 inches while a rectangular videohaving a diagonal length of 30 inches is projected onto the uppersurface 61 of the table or the desk 60 via the projection lens 32, themagnification percentage of the projection optical system is 50. In thiscase, if the gaps 1301 and 1302 illustrated in FIG. 13 are set so thatthe portion including the display element in the small-sized projector30 is movable by a maximum of ±10 mm in the X-axis and Y-axisdirections, the amount of movement of the projected video in the X-axisand Y-axis directions becomes ±500 mm at a maximum.

Note that the rotation of the projected video caused by the rotation ofthe portion including the display element in the small-sized projector30 around the Z-axis is illustrated by using a solid line and a two-dotand dash line in (E) of FIG. 14. An effect of the rotation of theprojected video in the third embodiment is almost similar to those inthe first embodiment and the second embodiment.

With respect to the movement of the video, the above-described presentthird embodiment uses the function of varying the relative positionbetween the display element and the projection optical system asdifferent from the first embodiment and the second embodiment.Therefore, even if an amount of movement of a mechanism inside the mainbody (shade) 11 is made the same as those in the first embodiment andthe second embodiment, a larger amount of movement of the video can beensured. Accordingly, even if the user has changed the layout of thetable or the desk 60 in a room, the video can be more easily projectedagain onto the upper surface 61 of the table or the desk 60 after thelayout change than a case under such construction as changing the fixingposition and the fixing direction of the illumination apparatus with thevideo projection function 10 to the ceiling surface or the wall.

Further, in the above-described present third embodiment, even if theposition of the projected video is moved, a relative position betweenthe projection lens 32 and the diffusion plate 12 is fixed. Therefore,enlargement of the opening 14 in the diffusion plate 12 in considerationof the movement range of the projection lens 32 is not required.Accordingly, the size of the opening 14 can be minimized, the dustproofing performance is easier to be enhanced, and the aesthetic outerappearance as the illumination apparatus can be further enhanced.

That is, in the illumination apparatus with the video projectionfunction according to the third embodiment described above, the dustproofing performance can be easier to be enhanced, and the movementrange of the projected video can be more favorably magnified whileenhancing the ascetic outer appearance as the illumination apparatus.

Fourth Embodiment

Then, as another example in which the position of the projected videocan be moved by using the above-described function of varying therelative position between the display element and the projection opticalsystem, an illumination apparatus with a video projection function 10according to a fourth embodiment will be described in detail below withreference to FIGS. 15 to 17. In the present fourth embodiment, as alsoillustrated in a top view of (A) in FIG. 15, a side view of FIG. 15(B),and a bottom view of (C) of FIG. 15, a portion including a displayelement in a small-sized projector 30 is fixed and arranged inside amain body (shade) 11 together with an illumination light source 20 and apower supply unit 80 while a position of a projection lens 32 in thesmall-sized projector 30 is movable and adjustable. Other components maybe structured to be fixed to the main body (shade) 11. Thus, an internalconfiguration of the illumination apparatus 10 basically includes manysimilar portions to those illustrated in FIG. 2 described above.Accordingly, detailed description for the similar parts to thoseillustrated in FIG. 2 is omitted here, and a movement mechanism of arelative position between the small-sized projector 30 and theprojection lens 32 which is a feature of the illumination apparatus 10will be described below with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16.

In the fourth embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 16, a flange unit 321is formed at a distal end of a projection lens 32 constituting thesmall-sized projector 30 arranged inside the main body (shade) 11, and aprotrusion (a so-called tab or knob) 322 which can be held by fingers orothers is formed in a part of the flange unit 321. Meanwhile, as similarto the second embodiment, an opening 14 d having a larger diameter thanthe diameter of the projection lens is formed in a central portion of adiffusion plate 12 attached to the bottom of the main body (shade) 11 inconsideration of movement of the projection lens 32 in X-axis and Y-axisdirections. Further, an opening 15 is formed adjacent to the opening 14d. The opening 15 is an opening through which the above-describedprotrusion 322 is protruded outward when the apparatus is assembled, andits diameter is set to such an extent as to achieve the requiredmovement in the X-axis and Y-axis directions.

In addition, a cover unit 323 serving as a member for covering theflange unit 321 in the projection lens 32 from above is attached to thediffusion plate 12. A flange unit 324 is formed on the bottom of thiscover unit 323 as can also be seen from FIG. 16, and a circular opening325 through which the projection lens 32 is protruded is formed in acentral portion of the cover unit 323. In a state in which theprojection lens 32 is inserted into the opening 325 passing through thecover unit 323 and is attached on the diffusion plate 12, the projectionlens 32 is slid inside a columnar gap formed between the cover unit 323and the diffusion plate 12 so as to be movable on a horizontal plane inthe X-axis and Y-axis directions.

In (B) of FIG. 15, the configuration of the illumination apparatus withthe video projection function 10, the configuration having the variablepositon relative to the holding tool 40 which is the fixing memberhaving the invariable position relative to the ceiling or the wall, is aportion including the projection lens 32 indicated by wide-intervaloblique lines in cross section.

In the fourth embodiment, a movement function (also referred to as amovement mechanism) for making a position of a projected video movableis provided. A position fixing function (also referred to as a lockingmechanism) of the movement function will be described below. As lockingmeans for fixing the position of the projection lens 32 in the movementmechanism, a fastening screw 36 illustrated in (C) of FIG. 15 may beprepared first at a distal end of the protrusion 322 illustrated in FIG.16, and the movement mechanism may be locked, i.e., the position of theprojection lens 32 may be fixed by tightening the fastening screw 36.Alternatively, as illustrated in (C) of FIG. 15, the movement functionmay be locked by tightening a fastening screw 44 while providing anopening for the fastening screw 44 at a different position from theprotrusion 322. Alternatively, the movement function may be locked byfriction caused by sandwiching the flange unit 321 between the coverunit 323 and the diffusion plate 12 without preparing a fastening screwat the distal end of the protrusion 322 from the opening 15. In thiscase, an urging mechanism such as a spring may be provided between thecover unit 323 and the flange unit 321.

The flange unit 321 may be configured to be movable by a dedicated toolwithout providing the protrusion 322. In this case, the diffusion plate12 may be provided with an opening 15, the flange unit 321 may beprovided with a dedicated-tool detachable hole, and the position of theprojection lens 32 may be moved by inserting the dedicated tool into thededicated-tool detachable hole only when the user moves the projectionlens 32. In this case, it is not required to protrude the protrusion 322downward from the diffusion plate 12. Therefore, the aesthetic outerappearance as the illumination apparatus can be more favorablymaintained.

According to the above-described configuration, video light projectedfrom the projection lens 32 can be moved and adjusted within a largerrange in a desired direction by the function of varying the relativeposition between the display element and the projection optical systemcaused by the movement of the projection lens 32 on the horizontal planein the X-axis and Y-axis directions. That is, the projected video can bemoved in two-axes directions. In the case, note that the user adjuststhe position of the projection lens 32 on the horizontal plane in theX-axis and Y-axis directions by using the protrusion 322 or others afterloosening the fastening screw 36 or the fastening screw 44 or others.Then, by retightening the fastening screw 36 or the fastening screw 44,the position of the projection lens 32 is set and fixed. In the lockingmethod by the friction described above, note that the fastening screw isnot required.

An example of the movement of the projected video caused by the movementof the projection lens 32 in the fourth embodiment in the X-axis andY-axis directions is illustrated by using a solid line and a two-dot anddash line in (A) to (D) of FIG. 17. By the movement of the projectionlens 32, the relative position in the X-axis and Y-axis directionsbetween the display element and the optical axis of the projection lens32 is changed. At this time, an amount of movement of the projectedvideo is an amount obtained by multiplying an amount of change in therelative position in the X-axis and Y-axis directions between thedisplay element and the optical axis of the projection lens 32 by amagnification percentage of the projection optical system.

For example, when the display element has a rectangular video displaysurface having a diagonal length of 0.6 inches, and besides, when arectangular video having a diagonal length of 30 inches is projected onan upper surface of a table or a desk 60 via the projection lens 32, themagnification percentage of the projection optical system is 50. Whenthe diameter of the opening 15, the diameter of the flange unit 321, theinner diameter of the cover unit 323, and others are set so that theprojection lens 32 is movable by ±10 mm at a maximum in the X-axis andY-axis directions, the amount of movement of the projected video in theX-axis and Y-axis directions becomes ±500 mm at a maximum.

Note that the foregoing example has been described in an assumption thatthe projection lens 32 in the small-sized projector 30 is arranged atrespective central portions of the main body (shade) 11 and thediffusion plate 12. However, if the projection lens 32 is at otherposition, the projection lens 32 maybe configured so that respectivepositions of the opening 14 d and the opening 15 formed in the diffusionplate 12 described above together with the attachment position of theprojection lens 32 moves to match the position of the projection lens32.

In the illumination apparatus with the video projection functionaccording to the fourth embodiment described above, the movement rangeof the projected video can be more favorably enlarged by providing themechanism of moving the projection lens 32 so that the relative positionbetween the projection optical system and the display element isvariable. And, only the projection lens 32 can be made variable whilethe position of the portion including the display element in thesmall-sized projector 30 is fixed, and therefore, a structure inside themain body (shade) 11 can be made simpler.

Fifth Embodiment

In the above-described embodiments, particularly the fourth embodiment,description has been made in an assumption that the small-sizedprojector 30 arranged inside the main body (shade) 11 is fixed. However,in the illumination apparatus with the video projection functionaccording to the fourth embodiment, if a mechanism of making the entiremain body (shade) 11 including the small-sized projector 30 rotatablearound the Z-axis is further provided, the video can also be rotated inaddition to the movement of the video described in the fourthembodiment. An illumination apparatus with a video projection functionaccording to a fifth embodiment will be described below with referenceto FIGS. 18 and 19.

As more specific description, the fifth embodiment can be achieved asalso illustrated in FIG. 18 by further mounting a rotation mechanismsimilar to the rotation mechanism described in the first embodiment intoan upper part of a main body (shade) 11 in the configuration of theillumination apparatus with the video projection function 10 accordingto the fourth embodiment. In the case, note that the diameter of theopenings 115 respectively formed in the central portions of the doubledisk units 111 and 112 illustrated in FIG. 5 in the first embodiment maybe made almost similar to the diameter of the holding tool 40. That is,in the fifth embodiment, it is not required to secure the gaps 501 and502 to be large enough to make the main body (shade) 11 movable inX-axis and Y-axis directions as seen in the first embodiment.

That is, according to the present fifth embodiment, by theconfiguration, not only the movement of the projection lens 32 separatedfrom the small-sized projector 30 on the horizontal plane in the X-axisand Y-axis directions but also the rotation of the entire main body(shade) 11 including the small-sized projector 30 around the Z-axis canbe achieved. That is, the projected video can be moved in the two-axesdirections and be rotated in one-axis direction.

An example of the movement of the projected video caused by the movementof the projection lens 32 in the fifth embodiment in the X-axis andY-axis directions is illustrated by using a solid line and a two-dot anddash line in (A) to (D) of FIG. 19. An effect of the movement of theprojection lens 32 in the X-axis and Y-axis directions is similar tothat in the fourth embodiment.

The rotation of the projected video caused by the rotation of theportion including the display element in the small-sized projector 30around the Z-axis is illustrated by using a solid line and a two-dot anddash line in (E) of FIG. 19. An effect of the rotation of the projectionvideo is almost similar to those in the first and second embodiments.

The present fifth embodiment described above can achieve theillumination apparatus with the video projection function in which theposition of the projected video can be favorably moved within a largerrange by the function of varying the relative position between thedisplay element and the projection optical system and in which theprojected video can be rotated by the rotation mechanism.

In each of the embodiments described above, an example in which a planeformed by an X-axis and a Y-axis is a horizontal plane has beendescribed. Further, an example in which the Z-axis extends in a verticaldirection has been described. However, a movement mechanism on the planeformed by the X-axis and the Y-axis described in each of the embodimentsof the present invention is a mechanism for moving a video on aprojection surface in an X-direction and a Y-direction. Therefore, thisplane may be not limited to a horizontal plane but any plane as long asthe plane is in parallel to a video projection surface. The rotationmechanism around the Z-axis described in each of the embodiments of thepresent invention is a mechanism for rotating the video on theprojection surface around the Z-axis. Therefore, the rotation axisserving as the Z-axis may be not limited to a vertical direction but anyaxis as long as the axis is perpendicular to the video projectionsurface.

The small-sized projector 30 described in each of the above-describedembodiments does not always need to include an entire projector (all aplurality of components constituting the projector). That is, thesmall-sized projector 30 may be a part of the projector as long as thesmall-sized projector is a unit including a display element in theprojector.

The various illumination apparatuses each with the video projectionfunction according to the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been described above. However, the present invention is not to belimited to the above-described embodiments but includes various modifiedexamples. For example, in the above-described embodiments, the entiresystem has been described in detail in order to understandably explainthe present invention, and the present invention is not limited to asystem including all components described above. Also, a part of thestructure of one embodiment can be replaced with the structure of theother embodiment, and besides, the structure of the other embodiment canbe added to the structure of one embodiment. Further, the otherstructure can be added to/eliminated from/replaced with a part of thestructure of each embodiment.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

10 . . . Illumination apparatus with Video projection function, 11 . . .Main body (Housing, Shade), 12 . . . Diffusion plate, 14 and 15 . . .Opening, 20 . . . Illumination light source, 21 . . . Substrate, 30 . .. Small-sized projector, 31 . . . Casing member, 32 . . . Projectionlens, 33 . . . Member, 34 . . . Disk-shaped member (Suspended member),40 . . . Holding tool (Pipe), 41 . . . Flange unit, 42 . . . Fixingmember, 43 . . . Screw hole, 44 . . . Fastening screw, 90 . . . Holdingplate, 91 and 92 . . . Support pillar, 111 and 112 . . . Disk unit, 115. . . Opening, 501 and 502 . . . Gap

1. An illumination apparatus which is held by a holding tool for fixingto a ceiling surface or a wall and which emits illumination light,comprising: a light source arranged inside a housing for generating theillumination light; a diffusion plate attached to a part of the housing,the diffusion plate diffusing the illumination light from the lightsource; a projector which is arranged inside a space formed by thehousing and a part of the diffusion plate and which projects a videoonto a projection surface; and movement means for making the whole or apart of the projector movable in a direction parallel to the projectionsurface.
 2. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theprojector is fixed into a space formed by the housing and the diffusionplate, and a position of an integral configuration including theprojector, the housing, and the diffusion plate relative to the holdingtool is made to be variable in a direction parallel to the projectionsurface by the movement means.
 3. The illumination apparatus accordingto claim 2, wherein the integral configuration including the projector,the housing, and the diffusion plate is made to be rotatable around anaxis perpendicular to the projection surface by the movement means. 4.The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein positions ofthe housing and the diffusion plate relative to the holding tool arefixed to be invariable, and a position of the projector relative to theholding tool is made to be variable in an in-plane direction parallel tothe projection surface by the movement means.
 5. The illuminationapparatus according to claim 4, wherein, inside a space formed by thehousing and the diffusion plate, the projector is made to be rotatablearound an axis perpendicular to the projection surface by the movementmeans.
 6. An illumination apparatus which is held by a holding tool forfixing to a ceiling surface or a wall and which emits illuminationlight, comprising: a light source arranged inside a housing forgenerating the illumination light; a diffusion plate attached to a partof the housing, the diffusion plate diffusing the illumination lightfrom the light source; a projector which is arranged inside a spaceformed by the housing and a part of the diffusion plate and whichprojects a video onto a projection surface; and movement means formaking a position of a projection lens in the projector relative to adisplay element included in the projector movable in a directionparallel to the projection surface.
 7. The illumination apparatusaccording to claim 6, wherein a position of the projection lens relativeto the diffusion plate is fixed to be invariable, and a position of aconfiguration including the display element in the projector relative tothe diffusion plate is made to be variable by the movement means.
 8. Theillumination apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the configurationincluding the display element in the projector is made to be rotatablearound an axis perpendicular to the projection surface by the movementmeans.
 9. The illumination apparatus according to claim 6, wherein aposition of the display element included in the projector relative tothe diffusion plate is fixed to be invariable, and the movement meansfor moving the projection lens is attached to a part of the diffusionplate.
 10. The illumination apparatus according to claim 9, furthercomprising means for making an integral configuration including thehousing, the projector, and the diffusion plate rotatable around an axisperpendicular to the projection surface.